I am a citizen of this planet, who believes there is a purpose and mission to our existence. I pursue that mission and try to enjoy every lesson, every day, and every last drop of the pain and joy we drink when we live. I live a mostly regret-free life, with each failure quickly becoming a valuable experience and something to laugh about, and every success something about which to be thankful and celebrative. I do all of this in and around my beloved Berkeley, California.

8/12/2007

I Am What I Am

My Sunday mood, which I present to you with joy. The legendary Shirley Bassey sings one of my most favorite songs in the world. I am keeping quiet as I sort thoughts and ideas upstairs!

I am what I am/ I am my own special creation/ So come take a look/ Give me the hook or the ovationIt's my world that I want to have a little pride in/ My world and it's not a place I have to hide inLife's not worth a damn till you can say/ Hey world I am what I am/ I am what I am/ I don't want praiseI don't want pity/ I bang my own drum/ Some think it's noise/ I think it's pretty
And so what if I love each feather and each spangle/ Why not try and see things from a different angle
Your life is a sham till you can say/ Hey world I am what I am/ I am what I am And what I am needs no excuses/ I deal my own deck/ Sometimes the ace/ Sometimes the deuces
It's my life and there's no return and no deposit/ One life, so it's time to open up your closet
Life's not worth a damn till you can say
Hey world I am what I am

It's a beautiful song. I'd never heard it before. The sentiment could not be truer words spoken.

If you don't approve of yourself, how can you expect the universe to accept you. I think it's Kabbalsh's teaching that the measure of success is what one overcomes NOT what one achieves...I'm parapharsing of course.

There should be no conditions set on as to how to behave or what to be in order to receive self acceptance and self love.

I always need to remember that there are no "if - then" clauses in establishing conditions for accepting and loving yourself.

Salam Jeer Jan. Yes, I can't think of anything Shirley Bassey sang which I didn't like! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Certainly, I shall leave for Aleph Null shortly. I will tell you all about it. They are so soothing. I hope you have had a good weekend Jeerjeerak Jan. Take care.

Salam Bar Serendip! Chetori? I spent the day reflecting. A long time ago I gave up on what I have and what I don't have. I now only think about about what I am and what I am not as having things really (really) doesn't matter. The only disconcerting thing about reflecting is that while it makes you feel happy and powerful because of what you are, it also makes you sad and melancholic for what you aren't. So "reflecting days" for me are a scene where I walk about peacefully, interspersed with tears which come and go. I wanted to report to you, Serendip Jan, that I bought 3 stems of Lillies yesterday which I had put in a vase on my table just across from where I was sitting part of the morning, reflecting. They were still in buds this morning. In the four hours that I was more or less sitting there intermittently, in the warm day's temperatures, the buds fully blossomed. First I thought I wasn't seeing right through the tears, but when I wiped my eyes, I saw there there, in full bloom! Too bad I left my camera cable at work or I would show them to you. Anyhow, I just did show them to you, didn't I? Be good Serendip. Love yourself because you are lovely.

Thank you Alef Shin Jan. If accepting others as they are is the basis for "tolerance" with which humans can live together peacefully, it would be a shame if we cannot accept and tolerate ourselves, wouldn't you say? Be happy Alef Shin.